TAMPA, Fla. — Three men are facing criminal charges following a confrontation inside a University of South Florida parking garage where prosecutors say they harassed a group of students engaged in prayer.
The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that Richard Penkoski, Christopher Svochak, and Ricardo Yepez have been charged with disturbing a religious assembly and disorderly conduct. Both charges are classified as misdemeanors.
The charges stem from an incident on the morning of November 18, 2025. According to investigators, a group of 11 students and community members had gathered in the garage to pray when the three defendants approached them…